NOT A SCRAP WASTED!
After lots of clothes making and upcycles my fabric ‘scrap bag’ was growing. A new ‘scrapbuster’ project was needed!
I set aside a weekend to cut, prep, sew and finish. The fabric journey starts in France…
Arriving in Cherbourg I made a beeline to the beautiful store ‘Les Parapluies de Cherbourg’. I bought the ‘Atelier’ fabric for 6 Euro. I loved the design and French style of this print. The store is beautifullly laid out and displayed. The street is a location on the film of the same name starring Catherine Devenue.
Onwards to Spain and after sewing the following:
- Pink silk kaftan
- Chanel style jacket
- Wool trouser suit
- Blue wool dress
- Brown silk PJ suit
- Silk turquoise dress
- Turq silk kaftan
- Upcycling a blue dress to a blouse
- Resizing a French thrift store green top
- Restyling a silk scarf top…
I was left with lots of scraps. selvedges and a desire to recreate them into something new!
I Singer Featherweight Sewing machine from 1956 is small but mighty. It has sewn all the projects above with ease. Limited space means I need to ensure everything is tidied up and put back the way it was after a sewing session.
If the weather is cool and I want to sew outside, I plug into a powerbank ( I use a Jackery)
WHAT I MADE
Along the way a blue dress became a blue top so with the remaining sleeves and bodice I cut the bag straps and fabric for a linen scrunchie. I made an orange scrunchie from the lining of a previous #memade kimono. Green linen sleeves became totebag shoulder straps. Pink silk paisley became a scrunchie with a bow. The small scraps I sewed into shoe bows to match all the dresses I had made. Donated fabric from one of my students became more bunting.
SEWING THE TOTE BAG
The main fabric for the tote bag was bought brand new and a lovely reminder of the fabric shop in Cherbourg.
I love selvedges and had lots left over from all my makes. Sewing them all together reminds me of this ‘travelling tote bag and my sewing journey’. The lining was made from the remaining wool from the trouser suit and gives a strong robust structure to the bag. Jeans pockets from an old pair of shorts were re-used in the lining.
Into Spain, and onto Murcia. A 20 minute air conditioned tram ride into the city and I discovered a beautiful sewing cafe called ‘La Mercerie’. Owned by Eve, we bonded over our passion for all things sewing and I could’t resist buying the LOVE webbing to improve the strength of the tote bag straps. Another ‘new’ purchase, but also supporting other creative entrepeneurs in our industry. The LOVE strap will always remind me this store.
LET’S GET YOU SEWING!
Once you learn how to sew the possibilities are endless. Everything I have photographed in this blog were all created by sewing a straight line. You can do it too. When the creative juices start flowing, we start sewing!
I teach all levels of Creative Sewing course to nourish and encourage your creativity and confidence. My new season courses start back on September 10th 2024. Click here to book.
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Christine Boyle
Creative Director
